The end of a creative cycle and seasons anew: The days after finishing The Fairy Tale Tarot
The past month has been full of changes. It marked the end of a prolonged drought here in the tropics, it introduced the reality (ala Kindergarten orientation day) that my daughter is no longer a baby but a little girl whose about to spread her academic wings, it was about watching my almost 9 year old son earn his brown belt in TKD after many years of intense training, it was about having just reacquainted myself with a childhood friend I haven’t spoken to in 33 years—sparking strange dreams of childhood, it was about getting a long needed new roof to replace our hurricane damaged one, it was about watching first time fruit grow from a wedding gift tree, and it marks the end of a tumultuous season of unforeseen life stuff (much of it having been fodder for previous contemplative blog entries).
Concept sketches for the Star card
But the biggest change for me was sending off The Fairy Tale Tarot into a realm called completion. I felt so many mixed feelings as I let this baby go. Of course, there is the initial euphoria of having realized a personal dream within the dictates of a deadline. But then there is the inevitable post-project comedown after releasing this 5 year mission to the anonymous never land of production, where its fate lies in the hands of others. I shall never do this project again and it is flooding me with all manner of conflicting emotions. It’s always amazing to see one’s work-of-passion make it to the daunting sphere of publication, but the reality of its finality is like an encounter with post-partum confusion.
Final drawing for the Star card
The Star card speaks to me at the present: resonating with my need to let go, mentally gestate and drink up the nourishing light of inspiration before fully immersing myself in studio activities anew. Even my editor told me that I deserve a break after such intensity. And despite my conditioned need to keep working (the ol’ keep on drawing if you wanna eat), I know that she (and those around me who witnessed my years of dedication to this tarot deck) is right. I need to take time to read, sketch, dream, journal, socialize and allow external stimuli to refill my well with renewed creative zeal. I’m entering a season of adjustment from feelings of being an accomplished fairy tale painter to a girl sitting in front of her clean, empty drawing table, an unfamiliar sight after many years of constant artistic activity. I need to allow myself to organize my thoughts and my space before engaging in another spate of blissful creative chaos. And I know I will. This is not the first time I have finished a big project…but I will never have the thrill of doing The Fairy Tale Tarot again! For now, I will enjoy this peaceful interlude and allow the muses to go play outside for a while, with me as the quiet observer sketching without obligation. Soon, I will hold printed tarot kit in hand and will have a host of new feelings to process 
.
The Star from The Fairy Tale Tarot, watercolor painting
Symbols and meaning:
The Star Maiden flies into the center of the tree thus connecting the spiritual world with the earthly plane: merging the different layers of consciousness. A spiral circulates from her chest, expressing her desire to go be liberated from the confinement of limited ego-driven thinking. The dying leaves are being released from the branches and flow freely. The full moon symbolizes birth, death and resurrection. Lunar activities preside, when fragments of the waking state fill our dreams at night. The faces in the trees represent the collective unconscious and our ability to access ancient knowledge while we dream.
***
It is important to be receptive to dream messages as a means of gaining greater insight and wisdom about our past, present and future. By becoming more aware of our inner dream life, we can become more proactive in our waking lives—actualizing those hopes and dreams that reflect our deepest desires.
~ Lisa
That Star card is just perfect. I love the meaning. One of my greatest desires is to be able to capture that essence (connecting the spiritual world with the earthly plane) in my art work.
And I know exactly how you feel after a big project. It’s great, but sad/strange/disorienting/lots of other emotions, too. Ah… the life of a creative…
Lisa -
This is a really great post – and a tremendous card! I have always backed away from the Star – fel t that it was right for other people, but not for me.
I really look forward to having this deck in my hands!
Blessings,
Bonnie
Oh the brilliance. It made me ache with the need to be set free and let that inner star out. This card would make me buy this deck even if I had never heard of Lisa Hunt or lusted after your….
cards.
Honey, this is truly magnificent. There is a whole sense (to me) of being grounded which is making it possible for her(me) to burst forth in all kinds of spirally creative goodness. There is such joy and yumminess in this card! Thank you for sharing.
Now I have to WAIT? sigh. I want it now, kthnxbai SRSLY!
Lisa, I can totally relate to this feeling of letting a project go–but you’ve been working so much longer on this deck. It MUST be like sending a child off to college. Something near and dear to your heart is done now, and really, it must be scary and weird and exciting, all at the same time.
I agree with your editor–you do need to take some time to replenish yourself. What an accomplishment for you, and what hard work you’ve done! But refilling the tank is necessary if you want to go on from here at some point, whether it’s next week, next month, or next year.
Be good to yourself!
And The Star card here–just GORGEOUS!! I’m so exited to get my new deck when it’s released!
Thanks for the wonderful post. xo
I can’t imagine working on a project for so long, then having to think about what to do next! lol It must be a very strange thing.
As for the Star card, well, your description gives me goose bumps! It resonates so much with me right now, everything!
I asked the Universe for a sign earlier today, that I was going in the right direction with some projects & ideas… I think this is my answer
Thank you xx
Great message, super image (one of my favorites from the major arcana).
Ah, how well this post captures that feeling after finishing a big project. It’s a bittersweet conundrum, isn’t it? I totally relate with the line “I will never have the thrill of doing The Fairy Tale Tarot again!” I know there will be other exciting projects for you—but in the meantime, there’s a bit of emptiness, I’m sure. Nonetheless, I hope you’ll allow yourself the luxury of downtime before the next call arrives from the Muses.